Lionel Messi is a professional soccer player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Born in Argentina in 1987, Messi began playing soccer at a young age and quickly showed exceptional skill and talent. He joined the Barcelona youth academy as a teenager and made his professional debut with the team in 2004. Since then, Messi has won numerous domestic and international titles, including ten La Liga championships and four Champions League titles. He has also won seven Ballon d'Or awards, which recognize the world's best player, more than any other player in history.